Bridge score indicator



May 1, 1934. E. c. SMITH BRIDGE SCORE INDICATOR Filed Nov. 18. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 5w H l w SCORING wuotmw 0.52m...

|40 REnouaLsn 20o EUR *Umm May 1, 1934.

Filed Nov. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 18a man hun Eine l l Inn uw u hmm., r aan 42a ommen u nw i f Y l I Patented May 1, 1934 PATENT OFFICE BRIDGE SCORE INDICATOR Edwin C. Smith,

Philmont, N. Y.

Application November 18, 1932, Serial No. 643,274

4 Claims.

This invention relates to score indicators for computing scores made in playing bridge.

An object of the invention is to provide a score indicator that will permit a player to easily, quick- 1y and accurately determine the value of the tricks taken.

A further object is to provide a score indicator comprising an outer envelope and an inner slidably mounted member bearing tables of the seven different values for tricks during each hand, the outer envelope having a display opening which exposes one of the seven groups of tabulations at each adjusted position of the inner member, there being novel combined stop and guide flanges carried by the envelope and adapted to operatively engage the inner member for permitting the user to readily adjust and maintain the inner member in position to accurately bring any one of the seven different groups of tabulations into registry with the display opening in the envelope.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention with a portion of the envelope broken away to expose the inner sliding member,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the invention drawn to reduced scale,

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a front elevation showing the method of folding the envelope to enclose the inner sliding member, said inner member being broken away to expose the combined guide and stop flanges of the envelope.

In the present embodiment, the tabulations are the hand values of contract bridge, this being done merely by way of example as the tabulations may equally well be those of hand values of auction bridge.

Referring now to Figure 1, the device is shown to comprise an envelope 10 which is substantially oblong in outline and is open at the bottom 11. The envelope is provided at substantially the center of the front thereof with a transversely disposed oblong display opening 12 that extends across nearly the entire face of the envelope. Printed on the envelope, above the display opening, are column headings indicating the several trumps, that is, clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades and no trumps, and also the column headings, not vulnerable and vulnerable. Between the heading no trump and the heading not vulnerable, there is printed on the envelope the word bid, and below it is printed the word made and the word set. A pointing hand is printed on the envelope below the words made and set.

Slidably tted Within the envelope is an inner member 13 in the form of a loop of material of slightly less length and breadth than the envelope. The ends of the loop project through the open bottom 11 of the envelope and are bound together by a metal U-shaped clamp 14 which forms a grip for sliding the inner member longitudinally in the envelope.

The front face of the inner member bears a table of the values of the tricks in each suit arranged in columns in alignment with the respective trump headings on the envelope, that is, the values of the tricks when, for instance, clubs or diamonds are trump, are in a straight line or vertical row with respect to the trump headings and so on. Also vertical rows of values are printed on the inner member to align with the not vulnerable and vulnerable headings.

The above mentioned markings are arranged in seven superposed groups, as best shown in Figure 5, and numbered from the lowermost to the uppermost, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and '7, these groups corresponding to the seven different values for tricks during each hand, depending upon the number of tricks taken. Each group is sub-divided to provide the legends doubled and redoubled below the designating numeral of the group. Any desired group may be exposed through the display opening 12 in the envelope by sliding the inner member into or out of the envelope, as is obvious.

Preferably, in constructing the envelope a single blank of suitable material is scored transversely at the center, as shown at 14 in Figure 5, so as to be bent or doubled upon itself. A pair of wings or flaps 15 are provided on the longitudinal edges of the front portion 16 of the envelope which flaps are bent over the back portion 1'7 of the envelope and adhesively secured thereto, as shown in Figure 3. On the longitudinal edges of the back portion of the envelope there are provided, near the transverse score 14, a pair of side flaps 18 which are folded down upon and adhesively secured to the back portion 17 of the envelope and in practice form smooth slightly raised guide surfaces upon which the inner member 13 of the device may freely slide without binding in the envelope.

Below the flaps 18 there are also provided, on the longitudinal edges of the back portion of the envelope, a pair of side flaps 19 and these fiaps. are left loose so as to be thrust into the enclosure between the front portion 20 and back portion 21 of the inner member prior to application of the cla-mp 14. These iiaps perform the dual function of guides and stops for directing and limiting movement of the inner sliding member 13. One end edge 22 of each flap 19 will engage the bight 23 of the looped inner member to limit withdrawal of the inner member from the envelope while the opposite end edge 24 of each flap 19 will engage the outer clamped portion of the inner member and limit insertion of the inner member into the envelope.

In practice, the front face of the outer envelope, above and below the display opening and heretofore described markings, is preferably provided with data or information such as honors, game and rubber, making contract, extra tricks, slams, and revoked penalties, but such printed matter has not been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the interest of brevity.

The operation of the indicator is very simple, a single movement of the inner member 13 by one hand of the operator, while the envelope is held in the other hand, being the only step necessary to indicate at the display opening 12, in the envelope, the points to be scored for tricks taken, such as one trick, two tricks, three tricks, and so on, and simultaneously therewith the points to be lost if the player is set and does not make his bid.

The invention can be manufactured either from cardboard, paper or from more permanent and expensive material, and in all embodiments of the invention, it will be observed that the loose flaps 19 act as springs by frictionally engaging between the front and back of the inner sliding member to prevent the inner member from sliding loosely back and forth in the envelope, but at the same time such frictional engagement is sufliciently light to allow the inner member to be easily shifted to the various desired positions in the envelope.

What is claimed is:

l. A score indicator comprising an envelope having one end open and having a sight opening in one side, a closed loop inner member slidably fitted within the envelope and having an end projecting through the open end of the envelope, said member bearing indicia through the sight opening in the envelope, and combined guide and stop flaps carried by the envelope and projecting into the enclosure of the closed loop inner member.

2. A score indicator comprising an envelope having an open end and having a sight opening in one side, a closed loop inner member having a front portion and a back portion slidably tted within the envelope, said member bearing indicia viewable through the sight opening in the envelope, a grip carried by the inner member and exposed beyond the open end of the envelope for sliding the inner member, and combined guide and stop anges carried by the envelope projecting into the enclosure of the closed loop inner member.

3. A score indicator comprising an envelope having one end open and having a sight opening in its front side, an inner closed loop member having a front portion bearing indicia viewable through the sight opening in the envelope and a back portion slidably fitted within the envelope, the inner member being formed from a single blank folded upon itself and having the ends projecting through the open end of the envelope, a rigid clamp binding together the exposed ends of the inner member and forming a grip for sliding the inner member, and longitudinal flaps carried by the envelope and projecting between the front portion and the back portion of the inner member and adapted to guide and limit sliding movement of the inner member.

4. A score indicator comprising an envelope having an open end and a sight opening in one side, a closed loop inner member slidably fitted in the envelope and projecting through the open end thereof, said member bearing indicia. viewable through the sight opening in the envelope, a rigid strip closing the projecting end of the inner member, and iiaps at the sides of the envelope engaging between the front and the back of the inner member and of less length than the member whereby the ends of the flaps may engage the closed end of the member and the rigid strip respectively to limit movement of the member.

EDWIN C. SMITH. [L.S.] 

